Turning the debate

On "Morning Joe," Paul Krugman said that on his "list of things to worry about, the long-term deficit is probably No. 5, No. 6," adding:

There’s lots of stuff, if we had a government of philosopher kings, there’s lots of stuff I’d be for. Given the reality of our political, partisan, polarized [world], I want the president to be pushing for job creation. That should be his top priority.

It seems from that passage that Krugman believes job creation could be a part of our present political reality, although I haven't the vaguest idea as to how he might nurture such a belief. Nonetheless his "top priority" is politically astute in the form of a much-needed counteroffensive to Republicans' unremitting deficit pounding, which will only intensify as the 2014 elections approach.

Being deficit hawkish but a bit less deficit hawkish than Republicans is a political loser for Democrats and the White House. Invigorating the nation's sluggish economy ranks three-and-a-half times more important to voters than ending the deficit, and Democrats have nearly two years to educate voters on how accomplishing the primary goal would lead, at any rate, to satisfying the second. They must swing this conversation around to the voter's benefit, and away from Republicans'--i.e., all the deficit scolding.

Comments

[japa21]

One thing Obama does well is use the term “invest” in a lot of his speeches. One thing he does not do well is explain how short term increase of the deficit through investment in job creating programs is actually a long term deficit reducing technique. Private companies go into debt all the time (and run up deficits) so they can invest in whatever needs to be done to improve the bottom line .

Investing in job creation will improve the country’s bottom line by increasing tax revenue (among other things). And this increase can be maintained without having to continue spending that money in future years. This is also true for the “entitlement” spending and Obama should use Paul Ryan as a perfect example of how entitlement spending is not taking but is creating opportunities for a person to take advantage of to better themselves. Without SS support when his father died, one can question just where Ryan would be today.

[Chucklenuts]

Japa21, better wathc out, that last line may be taken as a good reason why we should kill SS!!

[Peter G]

Permit me to translate. The president's policies should be to mitigate to the greatest degree possible the Republican program to prevent job creation.